It’s hard not to understate the cultural impact of Caddyshack, from phrases like Cinderella Boy and It’s In The Hole, to Chevy Chase, Rodney Dangerfield and of course Ted Baxter. But the track behind it all is just another great song in a litany amazing songs by Kenny Loggins. And of course, the dancing gopher, haha. Coming in at #14 is I’m Alright by Kenny Loggins.
When Bon Scott died, people thought that was the end of AC/DC. Who could top that vocal style that seemed to be as indelible to the band’s sound as the guitar riffs? The funny thing is, I only knew the Brian Johnson AC/DC, that’s how good he was, and the band’s answer to their future is the first of two tracks appearing on this countdown. This rock anthem is one of the band’s best songs and it showed they were not done yet. Coming in at #15 is You Shook Me All Night Long by AC/DC.
My wife loves her some Pat Benatar and 1980 served as her coming out party. The first of two songs on this countdown, this tune has a great bluesy riff followed by a chorus that when it hits, you want to scream it out like she does. She exuded female empowerment in her tracks, and this song is no different. Coming in at #16 of the Top 20 Songs Turning 40 years old is You Better Run by Pat Benatar.
I don’t think there is a song that better describes the transition between the 70s and 80s better than this one. It is two separate tunes that mesh into one, and you have this classic. The synth lead is known by everyone, and the chorus singing the title is just as iconic. It says a lot about the tunes to come that this song only made it to #17, Funkytown by Lipps Inc.
Sometimes a song goes away for a little while but starts to come back slowly until it floods our consciousness. That’s the point of this countdown, and this song is a perfect example of it. REO Speedwagon has been around for a while and has only recently made a comeback on the concert circuit, with this early hit of theirs leading the way. Coming in at #18 is Keep On Loving You by REO Speedwagon.
Some songs have such a hook that they cross over in all aspects of life. To be honest, most of the rest of the song doesn’t grab me, but it’s short enough of a track and the chorus/hook is so good it had to make its way to this countdown. When you quote a line in song at random, 40 years on, it’s a classic, and this classic comes in at #19, 9 to 5 by Dolly Parton.